TAT signed letters of intent with five major companies in China, strengthening cooperation to promote Thai tourism in the Chinese market.
New partnerships with seven large corporations in China are expected to help Thailand attract a new, younger customer segment and generate total revenue of nearly 300 billion baht, despite limited flight capacity, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).Airline seats between Thailand and China totalled 7.9 million this year, still below the 13.1 million recorded before the pandemic, while surging jet fuel prices amid conflicts in the Middle East have further worsened the situation by driving up airfares.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said that at a one-on-one meeting between the government and Sichuan Airlines in Chengdu, China last weekend, the agency urged the airline, which has the largest share of seat capacity from western China at 22%, to resume flights to Chiang Mai and Krabi and explore opportunities to operate flights to U-tapao and Hua Hin airports once jet fuel-related pressures subside.
Meanwhile, a meeting with Chinese tech company Meituan has led to cooperation on data exchange to formulate tourism campaigns, along with expanding the number of Thai restaurants included in the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide conducted by Meituan, similar to the Michelin Guide, to stimulate spending through food experiences.
